Illinois farm sees 500 compete in the first Beast Mode Challenge

Running through the mud, getting shot at by a paintball gun, scaling a wall and crawling under barbed wire might not be the typical way to spend an anniversary, but Eric Carriger and Whitney Musch wouldn’t have it any other way.

By Jason Nevel

The Telegram

By Jason Nevel

Posted Oct. 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 5, 2012 at 5:13 AM

By Jason Nevel

Posted Oct. 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 5, 2012 at 5:13 AM

Running through the mud, getting shot at by a paintball gun, scaling a wall and crawling under barbed wire might not be the typical way to spend an anniversary, but Eric Carriger and Whitney Musch wouldn’t have it any other way.

The couple from Jacksonville, Ill., competed in the first Beast Mode Challenge in Springfield, Ill., sponsored by Team Warrior Concepts, a mixed-martial arts gym.

The event was held on a farm, and about 500 people participated. The 4.5-mile race featured 21 obstacles that included small hill climbs, rope courses, mud pits, cargo nets and slides.

Wear a gas mask

To start the race, competitors wore a gas mask to disrupt their breathing. Then, as they raced through the woods, located along the Sangamon River, sharpshooters fired paintballs.

Musch, 26, said she was hit twice. It was an interesting experience, she said.

“I was not prepared for this whatsoever,” Musch said. “I would definitely do it again.”

Musch said she and Carriger, 24, heard about the event and registered. To get an idea about what to expect, they looked at pictures online. It did not help much, she said.

Carriger said he had run 5K and 10K races before, but that didn’t compare to the Beast Mode Challenge. He said he pushed himself to the limit.

“You can come in and go as hard as you can, and really get something out of it,” Carriger said. “They do a really good job of making a course for all levels.”

Start of a tradition

Scot Ward, event promoter, said the reception to this year’s event was so positive that he would like to organize a challenge in June 2013.

Ward said it took hundreds of hours of planning and constructing obstacles to create the course. The goal was to come up with something that was challenging but also safe, he said.

“There is a lot involved, and you have to make it fun,” Ward said. “You really have to make sure that nobody will get hurt, and then have a bunch of people climbing over them.”

The the only injuries at the race, says Ward, were a sprained ankle and a broken blood vessel.

Different monster

Jeremiah Williams, 30, of Sherman, Ill., was one of the top finishers at the race. He, too, said it was like nothing he had ever done.

Two years ago, he said, he competed in a 130-mile triathlon that featured running, swimming and cycling. The triathlon didn’t compare to running through mud and jumping over hay bales, he said.

“They’re two different monsters,” Williams said. “I was definitely more excited to do this because of the 20 different obstacles. I will be back next year for sure.”